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Cinephiles, rejoice! From today, Buenos Aires will host screenings of more than 400 films, including over 100 Latin American premieres.

This year’s edition of the Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema (BAFICI) kicked off last night with the world premiere of the Argentine comedy Las Vegas by director Juan Villegas.

The festival, now in its 20th year, will run from April 11 to 22. To celebrate, organisers have brought in a number of big-name international film personalities.

Iconic US cult director John Waters is in town. Waters will screen nine of his films and address an audience of fans, critics and filmmakers on both Saturday 14 (Usina del Arte, 2pm) and Sunday 15 (Village Recoleta, 6.30pm). Tickets are available in advance, online or at the door.

French film great Philipe Garrel is another big name at this year’s BAFICI. On top of the retrospective of his films, Barrel will give a masterclass at Village Recoleta, 6.30pm on Thursday April 19.

Irish director Nora Twomey is in Buenos Aires representing the famed animation studio Cartoon Saloon. Twomey has received Oscar nominations for three of her feature length films: The Secret of Kells (2009), Song of the Sea (2014) and most recently TheBreadwinner (2017). She will be present at a number of screenings including the open-air screening of The Breadwinner at Plaza Francia on Sunday 22 at 8pm.

Finally, Scotland is also present in the slate of international guests at this year's BAFICI. Actor Ewen Bremner, of Transpotting fame, will lead an actors workshop at the Usina del Arte in La Boca today (Thursday) at 3pm.